Disney College Program

Eligible applicants are those who reside in the United States or their territories, who possess American citizenship,[lower-alpha 1] are students of age 18 and older prior to the expected arrival date and are actively enrolled in an accredited semester-program university or college as a full-time or part-time student. Students actively enrolled in their final semester[lower-alpha 2] of an accredited semester-program university or college may also apply in order to be accepted for the following program season or apply within a year of graduation. Students must complete at least one semester of university or college before entering the Disney College Program, but can apply during their first semester to be able to participate in the program during their second semester. In the case of schools with additional requirement criteria, the student must meet all of their school's eligibility before being considered for the program.[6]

Students who apply are given the option to choose one of several program lengths throughout the year, each usually lasting between five and seven months, though the culinary session length depends on the student's school schedule. Once a student is approaching the end of their program, they may extend for an additional five months with the option to change to a different position[lower-alpha 3] or transfer from their current resort (Orlando or Anaheim) to the other.[7] Students may also apply for a full-time or part-time position with The Walt Disney Company.[lower-alpha 4]

After the initial application has been submitted, students may be selected to participate in a web-based interview, either immediately or later. Students who are selected to proceed beyond the web-based interview will proceed to schedule a phone interview with a Disney recruiter for the third and final stage of the application process. Phone interviews with recruiters have a length of approximately twenty minutes in which students are asked to express their interests in the roles they've selected in their initial application, how their prior experience relates to their qualifications and relay how they'd react in certain scenarios. Some of the roles that participants may be selected for include food service, attractions, entertainment, activities, merchandise, etc. For entertainment roles, students must audition in person.[8]

Final notification is usually sent about three weeks after the phone interview, though it can take up to 1–3 months, and the very last wave of final notifications are sent about a month prior to the final arrival date posted.

The living experience is similar to the original program's recreational experience. Once the student has accepted their Disney offer, they have the option of either residing in their own apartment accommodations or choose to reside in company-sponsored housing.[10]

For those who select company-sponsored housing, the cost of housing is deducted from the student's weekly salary and varies depending on the selected housing accommodation. There are fees that require upfront payment upon acceptance into the program based on housing, and these too vary between locations. In Orlando, a non-refundable program assessment fee is charged for administration support, scheduled housing events and activities throughout the program, and an additional housing and administration fee, which covers the first week of rent. In Anaheim, the program assessment fee also applies, along with a refundable security deposit as well as the housing and assessment fees which covers four weeks of rent.[11]

Students are expected to follow certain guidelines in the company-sponsored housing complexes.[lower-alpha 5] Apartments are single-gender only, except in the case of a married heterosexual couple, which both have to be accepted into the Disney College Program in order to live in a one-bedroom apartment, if they choose this accommodation. Students go through previously-notified apartment inspections at least twice throughout their program, though the complex administration reserves the right to inspect more than twice. Apartments must be deemed clean to the inspector in order to pass, this includes minimal dishes in the sink or dishwasher, vacuumed floors, clean counter tops, clean bathrooms and organized bedrooms.[12]

The learning experience began in the early 1980s as a group of nine seminars on the "philosophies and operating practices" of the various sections of their resort's business.[2] It has grown to include eight different courses, each focusing on a Disney topic, rather than a business area. Most of the courses are approved by the American Council on Education and offer participants the possibility to earn college credit during their program, subject to a decision by the participant's college or university.[13] Classes meet once a week for most of the program and are four hours long, with breaks during peak seasons. Participating students are required to utilize textbook readings, write term papers and participate on projects. Additionally, the Disney Exploration Series offers courses focused on business areas as they relate to Disney.

Like every Cast Member, participants must attend Traditions at Disney University, a 4-to-5-hour-long welcome orientation focused on the introduction of the resort, from employment to the company's values, which also symbolizes as their official first day as a Disney Cast Member. Participants are expected to uphold the Disney Look required not only for Traditions but for all types of professional meetings, classes and training. The Disney Look policy follows strict guidelines of Cast Members' appearances, that include natural hair color and style, neutral nail polish color, certain nail length, limited jewelry, facial hair restrictions, etc, varying per gender. Failure to follow these guidelines may result disciplinary action.[14]

The earning experience consists of students working within their role at their resort.[15] At the program's inception, only four major operating areas were offered to participants: food service, merchandising, attractions and custodial.[2] A fifth area, costuming, offers opportunities to work backstage with performers or in costuming operations. Currently, the Disney College Program offers opportunities for students to work in more than 20 different roles throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, including on-site resort hotels and the Disney Springs and Downtown Disney shopping districts.[8]

From the beginning of the program until 1988, almost all program participants resided in Snow White Village, an off-property location and the remainder of Lake Vista Village apartments in Kissimmee. 1987 saw the opening of Vista Way apartments, nearby Lake Buena Vista, which were much closer to the Disney property. By 1988, program students were fully relocated out of Snow White Village, which was later converted into a vacationing site.[3]

Entrance to Chatham Square

After the opening of Vista Way, and over the years, three additional company-sponsored gated-community apartment complexes opened as the Disney College Program expanded to accommodate more participants: Chatham Square, The Commons and Patterson Court, all adjacently located in Little Lake Bryan, less than three miles away from Vista Way. Participants in Orlando were provided the option to either live off-property or, up until March 2020, reside in one of the four complexes. Participants in sponsored housing were provided with fully-furnished apartments, access to recreational amenities, computer labs and housing-sponsored transportation. However, those living off-property were not allowed to make use of housing-provided transportation or attend any housing events. In Anaheim, participants could also choose to live off-property or reside in company-sponsored housing at Carnegie Plaza, approximately two miles north of the resort. For company-sponsored housing in both Orlando and Anaheim, participants were given options to reside in apartments of up to four bedrooms for up to three roommates per room, upon availability.

Flamingo Crossings Village is a new and more modern apartment complex, announced in 2018, that was intended to become the new home of all Orlando Disney College Program and International Programs participants in 2020.[16] However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and its spread to Florida, the opening of Flamingo Crossings Village was delayed and the four existing housing complexes were all closed as part of the previously-established relocation plan.[17] In the wake of the indefinite suspension of the program announced in December 2020, and with construction completed, the Walt Disney Company opted to maintain the main purpose of Flamingo Crossings Village apartments by leasing exclusively to company Cast Members.[18]

For students in company-sponsored housing in Orlando, the Walt Disney Company provided sponsored transportation to and from all housing complexes and all work locations, as well as stops at grocery stores, the post office and a leisure route to The Florida Mall. In Orlando, participants residing in company-sponsored housing were allowed to bring their own vehicles as well as make use of sponsored transportation. In Anaheim, however, transportation was not provided but participants were encouraged to bring their own vehicles and were also given free bus passes for the Orange County Transportation Authority public transportation system that earned them a dollar each day the pass was used.

The Disney Culinary Program is a subdivision of the Disney College Program but aimed at students enrolled in an accredited culinary school. The same experiences and housing accommodations are also provided to culinary students, as well as the application process remains the same but with specific requirements, mainly, being enrolled in an accredited culinary school in order to receive credit and also upholding the Disney Look.[14] International students are also eligible to apply.[19]

The Disney Professional Internships are professional internships offered by the Disney Internships & Programs division of The Walt Disney Company, aimed at students who would like to pursue a professional career in the company, such as business, marketing, sales, production, entertainment, etc. Internships are offered in many of the company's assests and divisions such as Walt Disney Studios, Disney Parks, Marvel Entertainment, ESPN, among others. Though internships offer the same experiences as the Disney College Program, interns are required to provide their own housing and transportation, due to internship offerings available in different cities within the United States and even worldwide. Students participating in the Disney College program are eligible, as well as students who are actively enrolled in an accredited college or university, or students who have graduated from a college or university within eighteen months.[20]

The Disney International Programs are based on the same values and experiences as the Disney College Program but aimed at international students, available only at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.